Electric control apparatus for musical instruments.



F. B.'L|TTLE.

ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTF'JMENTS.

, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. I915.

1,239,609. PatentedSept. 11,1917.

3 SHEETS*SHEEI' WiTNESSES |NVENTOR $6M Q 2 g F. B. LITTLE.

ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1915. 1,239,609.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- M i.t% l 5 as s L F. B. LITTLE.

ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 2. 1915. 1,239,609.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 $HEETSSHEET 3.

l I JTNESSES INVENTOR W 2% W73: M

FREDERICK B. LITTLE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 191 *7.

Application filed March 2, 1915. Serial No. 11,489.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK B. LI'I'ILE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion andState of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful ElectricControl Apparatus for Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to musical instruments and has particular referenceto musical instrumentscomprising a plurality of sets of electricallyoperated tone-producers, a single key board and connections by means ofwhich any one or more of the sets of tone producers can be operated fromthe key board.

My invention also covers a construction particularly adapted for easyand rapid assembling and disassembling of the several parts tofacilitate the convenient and rapid setting up and dismantling of theapparatus in various places for use, such as moving picture theaters.

A further feature ot'my invention is the idea of providing electriclights related to the various tone-producers so connected that thelights will flash when respective tone producers are sounded.

My invention resides in an electrical musical apparatus which includes aplurality of sets, of electro-magnetically operated tone-producers, asingle key board, a plurality of multiple switches, one for each set, anelectro-magnetic means for closing one or more of said multiple switchesfrom the key board, whereby u on operation of the keys of the key boarcorresponding tone producers of the connected sets shall sound.

My improved apparatus 18 particularly adapted for use in theatrical workwhen frequent changes of location necessitate the convenient and safepacking of and shipping of the apparatus. I have arranged the scyeralmain sections of myapparatus, that is, the key board, the switch boardand the musical instruments so that they can be quickly and easilydetached from each other for shipping and as readily connected pieces 2.

operation. For this purpose the wires running from the switch board toeach musical set are bound into a cable and the bar by which they areconnected to the switch board is easily removable therefrom. In likemanner the key board is readily disconnected from. and connected to theswitch board. When disconnecting the apparatus for. shipment the severalconnection bars are removed from the switch board and each with itscable connected thereto is packed with the musical instrument or the keyboard with which the other end of the cable is permanently connected.Consequently, the spring tongue connectors which might be damaged ifthey were to'be removed from their positions are protected by the frameof the switch board.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a switch-board having thereon thecircuit-controlling devices and the connectors for connecting the partsmounted on the switch board with the instruments. Fi 2 is a sectionalview of the connectors $0 of circuits which are connected with the setsof musical instruments taken onthe line indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isan end view of the switch board shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is an end 'viewof a contact rod. Fig. 5 is a section of the master controlling magnetwhich operates to disconnect the connectors connected in the circuits ofthe musical instruments. Fig. 6 illustrates the manner of mounting ofone of the circuit changing keys. Fig. 7 illustrates the playing keyswhich operate the sets of musical instruments and also one set of thecircuit-changing keys which control the connections of the sets oflinstruments' with the playing keys. Fig. 8 illustrates diagrammaticallythe connections between the different instrumentalities used inconnection with a system involving my invention.

1, Fig. 1, is the base of the switch board of any desired construction.2 are supporting cross pieces mounted near the ends of the switchboard 1. A plurality of bars numbered 5 to 14, inclusive, aresupportedon the cross pieces 2 and extend lengthwise of the board. They aredisposed in parallel arrangement and are secured to the cross The bars6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 are so mounted that they may be easily removed fromthe cross pieces or reattached when the switch board is to bereassembled by r the sets and 12.

the screws 19, while the bars 5, 7, 9, and 11 are pivotally supported onthe crosspieces 2.

The bars are provided with contacts numbered 20 to 29, inclusive. Thecontacts are secured by screws 19 to the bars or by any other suitablemeans. The contacts 20, 22, 21-, and 26 are preferably elastic oryielding so as to allow a certain amount of rotation or movement of thebars 5, 7, 9 and 11. The bars 5. 7, 9 and 11, are hinged to the crosspieces by means of the hinges 30. The contacts or contact plates 21, 23,25, 27 and 29 are fixed contacts and operate as the anvil contacts withreference to the movable spring contacts 20, 22, 2 1, and 26. Thecontacts 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 are connected together by means of aconductor or bus bar which runs transversely beneath the longitudinalbars 5 to 13, and the flexible wires 36 which extend up through holes 37located in the strips 5, 7,9, 11 and 13. The flexible wires 36 permitmovements of the bars 5, 7, 9 and 11 when closing with the fixedcontacts located on the bars 6, S, 10 The contacts 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29are connected to wires 40, 41. 42, 43. 4-1 which are bound together toform cables. The rods being connected to the cable may by reason oftheir removability be readily disconnected from the switch boardtogether with the cables to which they are connected and the cablerolled up with the rods for purposes of transportation. To re-assemble,all that is necessary isto connect the rods to the cross pieces of theswitch board by the screws 19.

The cable 45 contains wires which lead to the electric lighting circuitand to the circuit changing switches located on the switch board in themanner hereinafter described. It maybe bound with thecable 4.4: to formthe cable 49. The wires 45 terminate in the connectors 4-6 which may beclamped upon the posts 47 for making connection.

The contacts 20, 22, 24c and 26 are moved so as to close and-makecontact with the anvils or fixed contacts 21, 23, 25 and 27 by means ofthe magnets 50, 51, 52 and 53 which operate upon the armatures 54, 55,56 and 57. The armatures are connected to the rods 5, 7. 9 and 11 andwhen they are drawn down by the magnets the contacts are closed. Themagnets 50, 51, 52 and 53 are preferably iron-clad magnets.

The contacts 20, 22, 21 and 26 are normally held open by the operationof the springs 60 which are secured to the fingers ()1 fastened to thebars 5, 7, 9 and 11 and to the cross piece 2.

The spring dogs or latches 65, 66, 67 and 68 are disposed in front ofthe magnets 50.

51, 52, and 53, respectively, and in such a position as to engage thearmatures of the magnets when they are pulled down upon the energizationof the magnets. They operate to retain the contacts in closed positionwhich are originally closed by the magnet. This avoids the necessity ofkeeping a constant supply of current to the magnets in order to keep thecontacts closed. The spring latches 65, 66, 67 and 68 are connected to amaster release magnet 70. The latches may be provided with hooks 71while a rod 72 is connected to the armature 73 of the release magnet 70.The rod 72 is provided with pins 74 which are located so as to engagethe hooks '71 and pull the' spring latches away from the armatures ofthe magnets when the release magnet is energized, thereby causing therelease of any and all of the armatures that may be engaged by thelatches. Immediately upon releasemcnt of the armatures the springs 60 ocrate to lift the movable contacts away i iom the fixed contacts andthus disconnect the circuits that have been closed by the operation ofthe magnets and which have been retained in a closed condition by thelatches which hold the armatures in their closed or contact makingposition.

The magnet is preferably provided with a movable core 80 as well as anarmature 73. The core 80 extends inwardly into the coil of the magnet 70which is wound upon a brass spool 82. The rod 72 is preferably made of anon-magnetic material and is threaded into the armathre 73. The magnet70 is supported on a bracket 83 which is attached to the base 1. Thecore 80, annature 73 and the rod 72 are guided by the core fitting intothe brass spool 82 and by means of the bracket 84 in which the outer endof the rod 72 is located and through which it extends. The rod 72 isyieldingly held in its outermost position by a spring 85 which pressesagainst one of the pins 71. \Vhen the rod 72 is pulled inward by theoperation of the release magnet 70 it not only pulls against the hooks71 attached to the spring latches but also pulls against the spring 85which operates to pull the rod and the armature 73 away from the magnet.The rod 72 is provided with an adjustable stop 86 which abuts againstthe bracket 81 which operates to limit outward movement of the rod 72 bythe operation of the spring 85.

A block 90 is supported on the base 1. A plurality of circuit-changingkeys 101 are supported on the top of the block 90, which are connectedto the source of current through the connectors 91, see Fig. 6. Contacts95 of this series operate upon contacts 92, see Figs. 6 and 7, which areconnected with the release magnet 70. see Fig. 8. Further, the contacts96, 97. 98 and 99 of this series operate to close with contacts 92 thatare connected with the magnets 50. 51, 52 and 53, respectively. Thecontacts 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99 are supported on the rod 93.

The contacts 92 are connected through suitable connectors 100, see Fig.6, with the magnets 50, 51, 52 and 53 and with the release magnet 70, ashereinafter described.

The contacts or keys 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99 control connections betweenkeys 110 and sets of electric musical instruments. The keys 110 may belocated in any position such as, in front of the stage of a theater.while the part having the circuit-changing keys may be located in anypart of the theater convenient where'the times to make the desiredchanges may be noted. While the op- The playing keys may be located in,anyv convenient position, but I have found it preferable to mount thekeys 110 in the vicinity of the piano, which is commonly found. in atheater in front of the stage. The keys are so constructed and mountedthat they may be attached to one end of the key board of the piano inthe manner shown in Fig. 7. The keys 110 are mounted in the case 111 andare substantially of the same form as the keys of a piano. The case 111is attached to a bracket 112 having a clamping screw 113, whereby thecase 111 containing the keys 110 may be clamped to the easing 114; ofthe piano. The case 111 having the keys 110 is attached so that the keys110 are substantially in the plane of the keys 115 of the piano,preferably parallel therewith. The electrical key-board is located atone side of the center of the piano and in such position as to exposeall of the piano keys for use, so that the operator can play upon thepiano and upon the electric keyboard simultaneously or alternately, andwith either or both hands as may be desired. without altering orchanging the position of the electric key-board.

The keys 110 are mechanically connected with suitable contacts which areclosed by the operation of the keys in the manner hereinafter described.

Also in the vicinity of the keys 110 and the piano l eys'are locatedcircuit changing keys 120 which are in construction a duplicate of thecircuit changing keys 95, 96, 97, 9S and 99 shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Thecircuit changing keys 101 and the circuit changing keys 120 areconnected in parallel relation in the circuits as hereinafter described,so that the sets of instruments may be controlled by either set ofcircuit changing keys.

The circuit changing keys 120 are located intermediate the key board ofthe piano and the key board containing the keys 110. They are located insuch a position that the circuit changing keys are in proximity to thekeys of either key board whereby the operator may finger the keys of thekey board 120 with the same hand that the other key boards are fingered.He may operate the keys of the key board 120 while holding any one ofthe keys 110 down. Also the keys of the key board 120, which correspondto the keys 95, as indicated in Fig. 3, are located beside each of thecontrolling keys 96, 97, 98 and 99, which control sets of instruments sothat the release magnet may be caused to disconnect any set ofinstruments from the control of the keys 110 and the adjoining key whichcontrols the set that is desired to be played may be operated. withoutchanging the position of the hand; that is, the release magnet' keys arelocated beside each one of the controlling keys whereby the operator maychange the set of instruments which are being played while holding oneof the keys 110 down in its operative position.

Also by myinvention is provided a switch 126 for cutting off theconnection to the playing keys and thereby preventing operation of anyinstruments by the operation of the key board.

Also by my invention is provided a light controlling switch 127 wherebylights associated with the musical instruments may be controlled by theoperator.

The system involving the several instrumentalities which have heretoforebeen described is' illustrated in Fig. 8. I

In Fig. 8 is illustrated the system showing the electric connectionsbetween the several instrumentalities involving or contain ing myinvention. 130 is the source of current supply for operating theelectromagnetically controlled switches and the musical instruments. Itmay be any suitable source of current supply. It is preferably a sourceof direct current and I have found that a 'storage battery is probablypreferable to any other form of current supply. The storage battery 130is connected to a plug 131 which may be inserted between contacts 132located in a suitable socket. 133 and 143 are bus bars whichare,connected to the contacts 132. From the bus bars 133, 143 thecircuits'branch into two parts 150 and 140, 150 connecting with theoperation of the musical instruments. In the branch 140 leading from thebus bar 133 are located the contacts 28 and 29 which are carried by therods 14 and 13 on the switch board. The current then asses through theswitch 126 which contro s theplaying keys thence it divides to theplaying keys 110 and passes through the pair of contacts which areclosed by the operators finger and thence it goes through contacts 29and 28 to the contacts which are controlled by the magnets 50, 51, 52and 53. The current will pass through the contacts which are connectedto the rod which is held down by the latch of amagnet that has beenenergized. In the drawing the magnet 53 has been energized so that thecurrent will then flow through the .contacts 26 and 27 to one of thebells of the set 138. It will go to that bell thatcorresponds to the key110 that is closed by the operator.' Thence the current flows from theset 138 to the contact 26 and 27 of the return line to the bus bar 143and thence it returnsto the battery 130. When the magnet 52 has beenenergized and its armature and the bar 9 attached thereto have beenturned so as to close the contacts 24 and 25 and the arma-- ture and barheld in contact closin position a similar circuit will be esta lishedthrough one of the instruments of the set 137 instead of through one ofthe instruments of the set 138. he same is true with reference to themagnet 51 and the set 136 and the magnet 50 and the set 135. Anycombination of sets may however be obtained in the operation of thesystem.

The other branch 150 of the circuit from bus bar 133 contains thecontrolllng magnets 50, 51, 52, 53 and and the circuitchanging keys 101and 120. The current passes from the bus bar 133 to the magnets 50, 51,52, 53 and 70 and thence it passes to the circuit-changing keys 101 andto the circuit changing keys 120 which are connected in parallel. Theyare connected to the bus bar 143 thence the circuit is completed to thestorage battery 130. Upon the operation of the keys 96, 97, 98 or '99,or the circuit changing keys 120 on the keyboard, the magnets 50, 51,52, or 53, respectively, will be energized. The magnets will pull theirassociated armatures down so as to be engaged by one of the hooks 65,66, 67, 68 according to which of the magnets is energized, closlngthereby the contacts 20, 22, 24 or 26, which are connected to thearmature of the magnet energized. In order to release the armatures andconsequently open the circuits of the contacts 20, 22, 24 or 26 as thecase may be, any one of the keys 95 oi the set 101 or the correspondingkeys of the set 120 may be operated whereupon the releasing magnet 70will be energized, the circuit being completed through the keys 95 tothe bus bar 143 and thence back tothe storage battery 130. Whentherelease magnet 70 is energized it will pull the rod 72 which will en agewith the hooks 71 and pull out the late es and permit the contacts whichhave been closed by one of the magnets to be opened. Whereupon, anotherof the magnets or any number or combination of the magnets 50, 51, 52,or 53, may be energized which will cause the latches to engage withtheir respective armatures and hold the contacts closed which will causeany one or any number-or any combinationof the sets of instruments to beoperated by the playing keys 110.

A means is also provided for connecting a lighting system with theinstrument-playing system whereby the set of instruments which are beingoperated will be illuminated. 160 is thesource of electric light supplyand is connected by means of a suitable socket 161 to the switch board 1through which it is connected to the controlli switches and the electriclamps, the electric lamps being located in the vicinit of the differentsets of instruments whic are being operated upon by the operator. Thesource of cur rent supply 160 is connected to the bus bars 162 and 159.

The sets of instruments are preferably located 0n racks and electriclamps are preferably mounted above the instruments and in front ofreflectors. The connections and controlling switches are such that whenany particular set of instruments is played or any number of sets ofinstruments are being played aflood of light will be produced by theelectric lamps associated with the set or sets of instruments that arebeing played, which gives a distinction over and above the other sets ofinstruments that are out of circuit and not being operated upon.

The circuit thence passes from the bus bar 162 to the clip 46 and theswitch 127, thence it returns to another of the clips 46 and to theswitches 163 and thence it passes to the contacts 20, 22, 24 and 26which are controlled by the control magnets 50, 51, 52, and 53; thenceit passes to the electric lamps 165, 166, 167, 168 according as thecontacts 20, 22, 24 or 26 are closed by the magnets 50, 51, 52 or 53 andheld closed by the latches. So that the instruments 135, 136, 137 or 138which receive their current through the set of contacts 20, 22, 24, or26 as it is being played by the operator by closing the playing keys 110will be illuminated with the lamp associated with such instruments asare thus being played. The circuit returns from the contacts 20, 22, 24or 26 as the case may be, to the bus bar 159, thence it returns to thesource of supply 160. The switch 170 has two switch bars connectedtogether to be operated simultaneously; one bar is in the circuitconnecting the source of supply 130 with the playing circuits, and theother is in the circuit connecting the source of supply 160 withthelighting circuit. Consequently when the 5 switch 170 is closed, currentis supplied tothe playing keys ill and when opened will.

revent any of the instruments being played y the keys 110. The switch12? will also prevent the lamps from being lighted during the operationof the instruments. The switch 125 is located in the corn eon connectionof the circuit changing keys 120 which when opened will prevent theoperation of any of the controlling 50, 51, 52,- 53 and 70. The switches16% will, when opened, cut out or prevent the lighting of any of thelamps of any particular set of instruments.

Also, suitable "fuse 175 may connected in the system for protection ofthe electric lamps. @ther suitable safety devices may be connected inthe circuits of system as may be desired.

The be used foroperating any form electric musical instruments or any byvibrating magnets an nets. I have shown a set 138 sical bells, a set 137of sin a set 136, of double tone s; V and a set l35,ol cathedral chimetubes. as chinie tubes are operated by magnets, of which makes a singlestroke when producing t tone, while the other instruments are erated byvibrating magnets to desired tones. The system how crate instruments ofany des The arrangement and comic 1 instruments and their construe.'eatly varied. Eleni i iIlClJlOHS may be modifications may be tor Inapurposes and still contain tirl'laving thus described my l claim as new,and desire 8:.

Patent, is, I 1. A key board, a plurality o ruled by the keyboard, aplurali y c. instruments, each instnunient plurality of electro nsagnectone producers, a switch so oi": multiple circuit closets o board,onefor each musical in multiple circuit closer cc stationary individualc with tlietons producers o1 its eel bars;

- respective strnrcent and a movable switch bar carrying cooperatingcontacts, bus bars connecting corresponding cooperating contacts of theseveral movable switch bars, switches on the key heard one for eachcircuit closer and connected therewith for operating the same, a singlepair of contacts operable by each key, and connections between said keycontacts and said bus bars on the switch board whereby when any key isoperated current will pass to its connected bus bar and-the toneproducers of the musical instruments will'be sounded which are connectedwith the multiple circuit closers which are in closed position.

2. ln a semi-portable electro-inagneticany operated musical apparatus aplurality of sets of electromagnetic musical tone producers, akey-board, a single circuit closer loreach key, a switch-board, aplurality of multiple contact bars reniovably mounted on theswitch-board one for each set of musical tone producers, a'series ofcontact plates on .each bar, one late for eachtone producer of its set,a exible cable connecting the co tone producers of each set with itsassociated multiple contact bar, a removable key-board contact bar onthe switch-board having a contact plate for each key, a flexible cableconnecting said removable key-board contact bar with the contacts of thekeys whereby the musical sets, the switchboard and the key-board arereadily disconnected for ship ment and are readily connected foroperation.

3. In a knock-down electric musical instrurnent a key-board, aswitch-board, a removable multiple contact bar on the switchboard, acontact thereon for each key, an electrical cable connecting thecontacts with respective keys, a plurality of sets ofelect-"oinagnetically operated. musical tone ducers', a plurality oftli'fibl'c contact bar on the switch-board one for each musical set andhaving a contact in the set, a c is c ducers of contact bar c thesw1tch-;

I the keys, whereby dlsconnecte on; Y the musical sets Y removable barwith the tone producers of its set, a removable key-board contact bar onthe switch-board having a contact for each key, a flexible cableconnecting said removable key-board contact bar with the circuit closersof the keys, a plurality of bus bars on the switch-board, one bar foreach key and a multiple switch bar on the switc board for each removablebar having a spring plate for contact with the respective contact of theopposed removable bars, those for musical sets being mounted on rockingbars for simultaneously closing and opening all of the laying circuitsof each set and connection etween the said spring contacts andrespective contacts of the removable key board contact bar, a source ofelectricity one pole connected with the key circuit closers and theother connected with the electromagnetic tone producers.

5 The improvements herein described comprising a set of musicaleleetro-magnetically operated tone producers, 24 playing key-board, onekey for each tone and each having a circuit closer; a switch-boardintermediate the key-board and the sets of tone producers, a pluralityof bus bars on the switch-board one for each key and electricallyconnected therewith; a plurality of series of contact plates on theswitch-board one series for each set of tone producers and electricallyconnected with the respective tone producers, a plurality of series ofspring contacts corresponding with and adapted to contact with therespective contact plates and electrically connected with the respectivekey bus bars; means normally holding said spring contacts out of circuitclosing position, a plurality of electro-magnetic devices on theswitch-board, one for each said series of spring contacts, a pluralityof electric switches on the key-board, one for each set ofelectro-magnetic devices and'electrically connected therewith forcontrolling the same, means for retaining the spring contacts in circuitclosing position and means operable from the key-board for releasing thelatter; a source of electric current one pole thereof connected with thekeyboard, the other pole thereof connected with the electro-magnetictone producers whereby when a key is depressed the corresponding tonewill be sounded in each musical set, the corresponding spring contactsof which are in closed position.

6. In a musical instrument a plurality of sets of electro-magneticallycontrolled tone producers, a key-board, electrically controlled meanswhereby any desired instrument can be played from the key-board,electric lamps associated with each set of tone producers, and meanswhereby the lamps associated with respective instruments willbeautomatically switched on when the particular instrument is beingplayed.

7 In a musical instrument a plurality of electro-magnetically controlledtone producers, a key-board for operating said tone producers, electriclamps associated with said tone producers for illuminating them, andmeans whereby the particular tone producers being operated will beautomatically illuminated.

8. In a musical instrument, a key-board, a plurality of sets of musicalinstruments having electro-magnetically controlled tone producers, eachkey having a single circuit closer adapted to be electrically connectedto respective tone producers in said instruments, a normally openmultiple electromagnetic eircuit-closer for each set, a switch on thekey-board for each said multiple circuit-closer connected therewith forclosing the same, and means controlled from the key-board for releasingsaid multiple circuit closers.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto

